The Daisy Spy Ring: About Maj Craig Michael Williamson (RS 167) and his Clandestine Overseas Operation of how the SA Communist Party was infiltrated locally and abroad during the Cold War.
THE DAISY SPY RING: CRAIG WILLIAMSON (RS 167) AND HIS CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS
Hennie Heymans
Craig Williamson (Photo by Hennie Heymans)
I was honoured to received the above book from Master Spy Craig Williamson with the following inscription:
Background information:
During circa 1966 the Republican Intelligence (RI) was founded by Adv BJ “John” Vorster, Lt-Gen JM Keevy and Lt-Hen HJ “Lang Hendrik” van den Bergh. Our first great spy in this era was the then W/O Gerhard Ludi (Q018).
Capt Johann Coetzee was a covert operative in Durban attached to the local RI-office as commander. I had the privilege to meet him and others attached to RI for e.g. Lt ‘Basie’ Smit, Lt ‘Duifie’ van den Heever and others whose names are withheld – later I met former Sgt John Brooks (RI-Durban) in Pretoria.
Col Johann Coetzee later known as “Coco” was a brilliant Spy Handler and he recruited Craig Williamson. The rest is history….
Security Branch Head Office
On obtaining commissioned rank I was transferred from the sunny coast of Durban to the dusty and drab Head Office in Pretoria. A guppy in a large fish pond ….
One of the perks of the job as desk officer is that many Secret Reports from all over the world and the country crossed my desk …
“Operation Daisy” was run by RS 167 who also submitted reports. RS 167 was just a number like “007” – the number meant nothing to me BUT the Intelligence Reports were dynamite! It was most interesting to read his reports because he controlled a vast overseas network stretching over Europe, Scandinavia, Africa and the United States. He visited many places and had various contacts.
Later RS167’s “cover was blown”, and he was recalled to Pretoria. We became colleagues at Head Office. Here he continued his covert intelligence operations.
Top Secret Agents
Over the years I have done much research into South Africa’s National Security History and also focussed on the subject of “Intelligence”. Looking back, we had three main Top-Secret Agents:
Second World War
Capt (later Colonel) Jan Taillard
He was active just before the Second World war and during the war. In a covert operation he identified all the Nazi’s in Southwest Africa. They were interned by the Smuts-government and so a planned putsch was averted. Later he infiltrated Robey Leibbrandt’s circle and this lead to the apprehension and to Leibrandt’s death sentence…
Cold War Agents
W/O Gerard Ludi: Our second master spy
He very successfully and professionally infiltrated the South African Communist Party, and this led to the arrest of Adv Bram Fischer. Ludi also visited the Kremlin in Russia. Mr Ludi’s exploits were most valuable to the then intelligence community.
RS167 – Major CM Williamson, SOE – our third master spy:
There has been an awful lot of propaganda levelled against this hero but now you can purchase the book and read the full story well researched and presented very objectively in a scholarly manner.
Buy the book – it is highly recommended. Read and enjoy!
Statement of Confidentiality and Ethical Commitment
Even in the year 2025, we, as former members of the Security Branch of the South African Police, reaffirm our unwavering commitment to confidentiality. We have always assured our agents and informers that their identities will never be disclosed.
Take, for example, the RS-program of full-time police agents: Olivia Forsyth was designated RS407. Between RS167 and RS407, there were many other agents whose names remain protected.
We also worked with numerous local and international sources whose identities are known only to former members of the Security Branch — and their secrets remain safe with us as former professional Security Branch operatives.
